Box Score CHARLESTON, W. Va.  – The University of Charleston Golden Eagles Women's Basketball team (17-4, 12 3 MEC) defeated the Cardinals of Wheeling University on Wednesday evening by a score of 85-67 at the Wehrle Innovation Center. The Golden Eagles were led offensively by Anna Hayton, who scored 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks while four Golden Eagles finished with double figure scoring efforts.

JUST THE BASICS
SCORE: Charleston 85, Wheeling 67
LOCATION: CHARLESTON, W. Va.
TEAM RECORDS: Golden Eagles (17-4, 12-3 MEC), Cardinals (8-13, 7-8 MEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Eagles and Cardinals exchanged buckets through the first four minutes of the ball game with Charleston holding on to a 9-6 lead. The Golden Eagles struggled on the defensive glass through the first few minutes, allowing five rebounds (3 offensive) to the third best rebounder in the country, Lilly Ritz. Over the next two minutes, Charleston extended their lead to six, holding a 14-8 as Erykah Russell led all scorers with 7 points at the first media timeout. Charleston used an 8-2 run out of the timeout to take a 20-8 lead behind six points from Hayton, who finished the opening quarter with 8 points and 5 rebounds.
 
Headed into the second frame holding a 22-10 lead, Wheeling began the half on a 6-0 run to cut the UC lead to 22-16. Charleston's lead was extended to seven, leading 29-22 headed into the first media timeout with 4:59 remaining in the half. With Ritz on the bench for the Cardinals, Wheeling began to slow the game down over the final minutes of the half, but Charleston headed into the half holding a 38-29 lead.
 
At the break, the Golden Eagles were led offensively by Russell (11 points, 5 rebounds) and Hayton (10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) while shooting 45.2% from the floor as a team. The Golden Eagles held the Cardinals to just 12-of-34 from the floor (35.3%) including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc as Wheeling was led by Ritz (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Khira Burton (9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists).
 
Charleston began the half with Trinity Palacio converting the and-one opportunity to take a 41-29 lead on their first possession of the second half. Three consecutive steals on the defensive end led to eight unanswered points over the first 2:20 of the half to increase the UC lead to 46-29. Two and a half minutes into the half, Wheeling was forced to call a timeout with Emily Simon at the line looking to convert the Golden Eagles third and-one opportunity of the half. Headed into the media timeout, Wheeling put together a 6-0 run to cut the UC lead to 49-36. Despite trailing by as many as 19 in the quarter, the Cardinals fought their way back and cut the UC lead 13 and trailed 60-47 headed into the last quarter.
 
The teams exchanged baskets over the first two minutes of the final frame before a 5-0 run from Brooklyn Pannell, who played in her first game since January 22^nd, put the Golden Eagles ahead 70-50. At the final media timeout, Charleston led 76-56. The Golden Eagles and Cardinals exchanged buckets over the final five minutes of the half as Charleston would win their 17^th game of the season by a score of 85-67.
 
For the game, Charleston finished 50.0% from the field (28-of-56) while holding Wheeling to just 28-of-64 (43.8%). Charleston forced 17 Cardinal turnovers while committing just six of their own to score 15 points on turnovers.

Charleston Leaders (37-of-62 59.7 percent from the field)
Erykah Russell – 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Anna Hayton – 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
Brooklyn Pannell – 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Megan Haines – 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist


Wheeling Leaders (29-of-60, 48.3 percent from the field)
Lilly Ritz – 33 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks

Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will hit the road on Sunday to take on West Liberty in the Division II Showcase with tip scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles will look to pick up their first win on the road against the Hilltoppers since 2008